The Barnett Shale play in the Fort Worth Basin has become a substantial source of US natural gas production. Successfully drilling to the producing horizontal section, however, requires an ever-increasing amount of directional control. It is critical to optimize borehole placement and maximize total lateral footage within the producing horizon to enhance project economics. Additionally, in the vertical build-and-hold section, the operator must drill the sharp, abrasive Atoka sandstone and Bend conglomerate, which usually require several bits to complete the entire section. These formations have historically been drilled with roller-cone bits because standard polycrystalline diamond compact (PDC) bits and cutters do not have the required wear and impact resistance to withstand the punishment of the downhole environment without sustaining dramatic rate-of-penetration (ROP) reductions.
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